Topicm7a060164a18b56c2_1528449000663_0Topic

We are watching the evening sky

Levelm7a060164a18b56c2_1528449084556_0Level

Third

Core curriculumm7a060164a18b56c2_1528449076687_0Core curriculum

III. Gravity and elements of astronomy. The student:

4) describes the structure of the Solar System and its place in the Galaxy; uses the concepts of the astronomical unit and the light year.

Timingm7a060164a18b56c2_1528449068082_0Timing

45 minutes

General learning objectivesm7a060164a18b56c2_1528449523725_0General learning objectives

Describes the objects seen during the observations of the night sky.

Key competencesm7a060164a18b56c2_1528449552113_0Key competences

1. Explains what a constellation is.

2. Finds the North StarNorth StarNorth Star on the night sky.

Operational (detailed) goalsm7a060164a18b56c2_1528450430307_0Operational (detailed) goals

The student:

- explains what objects are visible on the night sky,

- describes different constellations.

Methodsm7a060164a18b56c2_1528449534267_0Methods

1. Discussion.

2. Text analysis.

Forms of workm7a060164a18b56c2_1528449514617_0Forms of work

1. Individual work.

2. Group work.

Lesson stages

Introductionm7a060164a18b56c2_1528450127855_0Introduction

The students discuss what objects are visible during the observation of the night sky. They write the names of objects on the board.

What objects do we see on the night sky?

Procedurem7a060164a18b56c2_1528446435040_0Procedure

The teacher introduces some concepts helpful by the observation of the night sky.

Observation of the night sky can become an interesting activity. For beginning, no equipment is needed, but the knowledge about the pattern of the constellations. Simple astronomical observations are available for everyone – only a clear, dark sky, without clouds and away from the lights of the city, is needed.

The Earth’s rotation around its own axis causes that we see sky objects apparently moving from East to West. The Earth’s motion around the Sun is the reason why different constellations appear in each season’s sky.

Celestial spherecelestial sphereCelestial sphere:
Celestial sphere is an imaginary sphere with extremely large radius with the Earth located at its centre.

It has a North pole and a South pole aligned with the poles of the Earth.

There are two sky coordinates: right ascensionright ascensionright ascension is like earthly longitude, and declinationdeclinationdeclination as latitude.

The celestial equator lies in the same plane that includes the Earth’s equator.

[Illustration 1]

Objects in the night sky:
In the night sky the stars and the planets are observed. In the table the main differences between stars and planets are summarized.

Constellations:
There are 88 recognised constellations whose names trace back to the prehistory. In modern astronomy, the significance of constellations is no longer mythological, but practical.

Definition:
ConstellationconstellationConstellation - a constellation is a group of stars that forms an imaginary region on the celestial sphere.  

The stars and constellations are divided into two categories, due to the Earth’s rotation and axial tilt with respect to the Sun. Those stars and constellations that never set below the horizon are called circumpolarcircumpolarcircumpolar. The other objects are divided into seasonal stars and seasonal constellations.

Definition:
CircumpolarcircumpolarCircumpolar constellationconstellationconstellation - a circumpolar constellation is a constellation that never sets below the horizon, as viewed from the Earth.

The circumpolar constellations seen on the hemisphere in Poland are: Cepheus, Cassiopeia, Ursa Minor (Little Bear), Draco, Ursa Major (Great Bear), and Camelopardalis.

The seasonal constellations move by 90 degrees across the sky every three months. The circumpolarcircumpolarcircumpolar constellations seen exclusively on the northern or southern hemisphere have also there different locations at different times of year.

Projection of stars on the celestial spherecelestial spherecelestial sphere:
The celestial bodies appear to the observer on the Earth to be at a fixed distance on the surface of the celestial sphere. But that what we observe is only a projection on the celestial sphere, irrespective of their real distance.

[Interactive graphics]

Star brightnessbrightnessbrightness:
Stars within a constellationconstellationconstellation are usually labelled using the Greek letters roughly in order of its brightness. The brightest star is labelled by α, next one by β and so on.

Task 1

Cassiopeia is one of the most recognizable constellations in the night sky. This is circumpolarcircumpolarcircumpolar constellationconstellationconstellation and can be seen all year round from northern latitudes. Figure out what are the names of its stars and order them with decreasing brightnessbrightnessbrightness. Use one of sky map available in the internet.

[Illustration 2]

Polar Star:

The Polar Star (from Latin, Polaris - pole) is the brightest star in the constellation of Ursa Minor. It lies approximately 430 light‑years from the Earth. A light year is the distance light travels (in a vacuum) in one Earth year. Polaris, commonly called the North Star or Pole star, is very close to the north celestial pole.

If you look at the photo taken with an extended exposure, you can see that the paths of stars are concentrated around the common centre. There is one almost stationary brighter point very close to the centre, within 1° of the pole - the star Polaris.

[Illustration 3]

Task 2

It is commonly believed that Polaris is the brightest star in the night sky. Actually it is only about 50Indeks górny th brightest. But it can be easily found. You can use the photo here or try it directly on the night sky.
To locate Polaris, you need to find the Great Wagon (Big Dipper) in the constellation Ursa Major and its two stars Dubhe and Merak. These two stars make up the rear axis of the Great Wagon. Draw an imaginary line between them and go about five times along the line as you reach a bright star. This star is Polaris. Starting there you can also find Ursa Minor.
m7a060164a18b56c2_1527752263647_0It is commonly believed that Polaris is the brightest star in the night sky. Actually it is only about 50Indeks górny th brightest. But it can be easily found. You can use the photo here or try it directly on the night sky.
To locate Polaris, you need to find the Great Wagon (Big Dipper) in the constellation Ursa Major and its two stars Dubhe and Merak. These two stars make up the rear axis of the Great Wagon. Draw an imaginary line between them and go about five times along the line as you reach a bright star. This star is Polaris. Starting there you can also find Ursa Minor.

[Illustration 4] 

Answer:

[Illustration 5]

Lesson summarym7a060164a18b56c2_1528450119332_0Lesson summary

Celestial spherecelestial sphereCelestial sphere is an imaginary sphere with extremely large radius with the Earth located at its centre. We observe on the night sky mainly planets and stars, which are grouped in the constellations.

Selected words and expressions used in the lesson plan

celestial spherecelestial spherecelestial sphere

right ascensionright ascensionright ascension

declinationdeclinationdeclination

constellationconstellationconstellation

circumpolarcircumpolarcircumpolar

North StarNorth StarNorth Star

brightnessbrightnessbrightness

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North Star1
North Star

Gwiazda Polarna

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wymowa w języku angielskim: North Star
celestial sphere1
celestial sphere

sfera niebieska

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wymowa w języku angielskim: celestial sphere
right ascension1
right ascension

rektascensja

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wymowa w języku angielskim: right ascension
declination1
declination

deklinacja

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wymowa w języku angielskim: declination
constellation1
constellation

gwiazdozbiór

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wymowa w języku angielskim: constellation
circumpolar1
circumpolar

okołobiegunowy

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wymowa w języku angielskim: circumpolar
brightness1
brightness

jasność

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wymowa w języku angielskim: brightness